Abraham Verplanck

Abraham Verplanck was born in May 1739. He was a younger son of Guleyn and Ariaantie Vanderpoel Verplanck. He grew up in the second ward home of a frontier trader turned businessman and civic leader. His father died in 1749 leaving the widow to raise her children in an Albany home.

It appears that Abraham was invloved in the northern supply train (including carrying rum to Lake George and Crown Point) during the Seven Years War. The "Abraham Verplanck Papers" at the New York State Library (especially a journal perhaps covering 1758-84) bear investigation.

In 1760, he was named constable for the second ward. In 1762, he was appointed firemaster for the ward.

In August 1761, he married a somewhat older Maria Bogert at the Albany Dutch church. Two children were christened there in 1763 and 1768. His first wife appears to have died because, in July 1772, he married Helena Lansing also at the Dutch church. That union appears to have been childless.

At some point afterwards, he would be numbered among Albany's rivermen. In October 1774, he advertized in New York that he would pay a reward for the sails stolen in New York City. He later was known as a Rensselaerswyck mariner and was a landholder in the Manor.

In 1766, his north end Albany house and property were accorded a moderate assessment. In March 1779, his second ward lot was valued on the city assessment.

In 1779, he joined in a community-based petition to the governor regarding John Tillman, Sr. After the war, Abraham Verplanck was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

Abraham Verplanck was not yet forty-five when he filed a will in March 1784. At that time, he identified himself as a Rensselaerswyck mariner and in "perfect memory." However, he was dead by March 24 when the will passed probate.